UTSA committee seeks student input for IT job search

(Feb. 24, 2006)--To better understand UTSA students' needs related to computers and information technology, members of the committee responsible for recruiting a new associate vice provost for information technology will host two lunch forums to gain input.

Free and open to currently enrolled UTSA students, the lunches will provide students the opportunity to discuss issues related to computers and technology at the university.

Forums are set for 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 1 in the Frio Street Building Multipurpose Room (1.402) at the Downtown Campus and 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Thursday, March 2 in the University Center Mesquite Room (2.01.24) at the 1604 Campus. Free pizza and beverages will be served at the forums.

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"We want to gain a broad understanding of UTSA students' needs in the area of information technology, so we can recommend extremely qualified candidates to President Romo," said Sonia Martinez, vice president for university advancement and chair of the IT search committee. "The individual chosen will serve as UTSA's chief information officer and is crucial to leading our efforts in maximizing the use of technology as the institution continues its pursuit of becoming a premier research university."

As part of the search, the committee chose to advertise in national publications such as The Chronicle of Higher Education, Diversity and Hispanic Outlook -- along with using resources such as EDUCAUSE, a national organization whose membership includes professionals in the IT community. The committee hopes to complete the search by the end of the spring semester.

Reporting to the provost and vice president for academic affairs, the associate vice provost for information technology is responsible for strategic planning in academic, research and administrative computing for UTSA. The UTSA Office of Information Technology (OIT) consists of 145 full-time professionals in six departments, in addition to a central executive support staff in the OIT office.

Along with Martinez, the search committee includes Mauli Agrawal, interim dean of the College of Engineering; Joe DeCristoforo, registrar and assistant vice president for student affairs; Eugene Dowdy, chair of the Department of Music; Carolyn Ellis, Web and information systems manager for the Institute for Economic Development; Craig Evans, director of Web and multimedia services; Wendell Fuqua, director of media production at the Institute of Texan Cultures; David Gabler, assistant vice president for communications; Victor Heller, interim chair of the Department of Management; Barbara Jakubowski, systems librarian for the UTSA Library; George Jeffery, senior systems analyst in the Office of the Provost; Jeffrey Kantor, associate vice president for research; Richard Knight, graduate student in physics; Mary Simon, director of management reporting and analysis; Sandra Welch, vice provost and interim associate vice provost for information technology; and Jesse Zapata, vice provost for the Downtown Campus.